Apparatus and method for heating water

ABSTRACT

It is an object of the subject matter to disclose a water heating device, comprising a vaporizer for vaporizing refrigerant and a compressor for compressing the vaporized refrigerant. The device also comprises a shell; such as a condenser and a volume reducing member positioned within the shell. The member is configured to reduce the cross section area of the volume in which water is heated in the shell. The device may also contain a refrigerant coil positioned adjacent to the volume in which water is heated in the shell; the refrigerant coil contains a refrigerant material received from the compressor, said refrigerant material heats the water in the volume in which water is heated in the shell.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter relates generally to water heating and morespecifically to a method and apparatus for heating water usingrefrigerant materials

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Effective and efficient production of hot water has become increasinglyimportant, particularly since non-renewal resources are often used toheat water.

Heat pumps are well known for heating fluids and comprise a vaporizerwhere a refrigerant in vaporized, typically by heat from air blown overvaporizer coils; a heat exchanger or condenser, where relatively coolfluid is heated upon thermal contact with the relatively hotrefrigerant, the refrigerant condensing in the condenser and passingthat heat energy to the heated fluid. Heat pumps are efficient becauseabout two thirds of the energy conies from the air and is used tovaporize the refrigerant liquid at the vaporizer is and about one thirdof the energy is required to compress the refrigerant gas. The energyused to compress the refrigerant (gas) is typically electrical energywhile the energy to vaporize the liquid comes from the thermal energy inthe (ambient) air.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the subject matter to disclose a water heatingdevice, comprising a vaporizer for vaporizing refrigerant and acompressor for compressing the vaporized refrigerant. The devicecomprises a condenser having a water inlet, a water outlet a refrigerantcoil and a shell. The condenser also comprises a volume reducing memberpositioned within the shell, said member is configured to reduce thecross section area of the volume in which water is heated in the shell.The condenser is located outside the water storage tank and connected tothe water storage tank via a first tube for providing water from thecondenser to the water storage tank and a second tube for providingwater from the water storage tank to the condenser.

The device also comprises a refrigerant coil positioned adjacent to thevolume in which water is heated in the shell; the refrigerant coilcontains a refrigerant material received from the compressor, saidrefrigerant material heats the water in the volume in which water isheated in the shell.

In some cases, the volume in which water is heated in the shell is avolume between the shell and the member positioned within the shell. Insome cases, the heated water flows in a siphon-like flow between thecondenser and a water storage tank. In some cases, the siphon-like flowis achieved by determining a rate of flow between the volume in whichwater is heated in the. shell.

In some cases, the device is a part of a split-type water heatingdevice. In some cases, the shell is a sidewall of a condenser. In somecases, the member positioned within the shell provides for local heatingof water in a volume adjacent to the side wall of the condenser, saidlocal heating creates a density difference that enables the a siphonflow between the condenser and the water storage tank.

In some cases, the device is pump-less. In some cases, the refrigerantcoil surrounds the shell.

It is another object of the subject matter to disclose a method ofproducing hot water, comprising obtaining a heat pump system comprisinga condenser with a water inlet, a water outlet and a refrigerant coil:disposing a member positioned within the condenser, said member isconfigured to reduce the cross section area of the volume in which wateris heated in the condenser; creating a siphon flow between the condenserand a water storage tank.

In some cases, the method comprises allowing the water being heated andrising along the refrigerant coil in the condenser to rise in asiphon-like manner.

It is another object of the subject matter to disclose a method forheating water at a heat-pump condenser, the method comprising:

obtaining a water heating device as disclosed above; regulating the flowrate of water entering the heat-pump condenser; providing water at thedesired temperature from the heat-pump condenser to the water storagetank.

In some cases, the water flow between the heat pump and the waterstorage tank using a siphon flow. In some cases, regulating the flowrate of water is performed outside the water storage tank.

It is another object of the subject matter to disclose a system forheating water at a heat-pump condenser, comprising: a sensor unit forobtaining information related to a temperature; a regulator forregulating the amount of water entering the heat pump according to adesired temperature; an output tube for providing water at the desiredtemperature from the heat pump to the water storage tank. In some cases,the regulator is a valve. In some cases, the regulator is a pump.

It is another object of the subject matter to disclose a water heatingdevice, comprising: a condenser; a volume reducing member positionedwithin the shell, said member is configured to reduce the cross sectionarea of the volume in which water is heated in the condenser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary non-limited embodiments of the disclosed subject matter willbe described, with reference to the following description of theembodiments, in conjunction with the figures. The figures are generallynot shown to scale and any sizes are only meant to be exemplary and notnecessarily limiting. Corresponding or like elements are optionallydesignated by the same numerals or letters.

FIG. 1 shows a split type system for heating water, according toexemplary embodiments of the subject matter;

FIG. 2 shows a condenser in a split-type heating system, according toexemplary embodiments of the subject matter;

FIG. 3 shows a condenser having an annular space, according to exemplaryembodiments of the subject matter; and,

FIG. 4 shows an integrated system for heating water according toexemplary embodiments of the subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One technical challenge disadvantage of known heat-pumps is therequirement of heating all the water at the water storage tank of homeuse. Another technical challenge is to avoid the use of a pump totransfer water from condenser heating water to the water storage tankand vice-versa.

One technical solution of the disclosed subject matter is anair-to-water heat pump that comprises a condenser communicating with awater storage tank. The condenser comprises a shell and a volumereducing member for reducing a volume in which water is heated in thecondenser. The volume reducing member reduces the cross section area ofthe volume in which the water is heated. The volume reducing member islocated within the shell. In some exemplary cases, water is heated in avolume created between the shell sidewalls and the volume reducingmember. In some cases, water flowing in the volume created between theshell and the volume reducing member flow in a siphon flow between thewater storage tank and the condenser of the subject matter, for examplea condenser of the water heating device.

The air-to-water heat pump and the condenser of the subject matterincrease the efficiency of hot water production and reduce. the time toa “first shower”. The time for the first shower may be defined asheating a suitable, but not necessarily large, amount of water to anappropriate temperature for showering.

FIG. 1 shows a split-type system for heating fluid, according toexemplary embodiments of the subject matter. The system 100 is connectedto a water storage tank 150. The system may provide water to the waterstorage tank 150 using natural flow or siphon flow between the system100 and the water storage tank 150. The water storage tank 150 may be aresidential water tank. The system 100 comprises a condenser 105 thatenables natural flow of water from the condenser 105 to the waterstorage tank 150 for usage. In some exemplary cases, flow from thecondenser to the water storage tank 150 may be performed using a pump(not shown). In a split-type system, the condenser 105 comprises theshell 170 and a volume reducing member 160. In accordance with theexemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, water is heated at a volume 165 betweenthe shell 170 and the volume reducing member 160, for example within thecondenser 105. The shell 170 may be the sidewalls of the condenser 105.In some exemplary cases, the length of the shell 170 is larger than thelength of the volume reducing member 160. Heated water is outputted fromthe volume 165 between the shell 170 and the volume reducing member 160to the water storage tank 150 via a first tube 130. In sonic exemplaryembodiments of the subject matter, a regulator 162 is connected to thefirst tube between the water storage tank 150 and the condenser 105. Theregulator 162 may be a pump or a valve. Water flows from the waterstorage tank 150 to the regulator 162 and from the regulator 162 to thecondenser 105. In some cases, the regulator 162 is connected to a secondtube 132 fluid outgoing from the water storage tank 150 to the system100.

The system 100 further comprises a compressor 110 providing compressedrefrigerant. The compressed refrigerant flows from the compressor 110 toa refrigerant coil 120 via compressor tube 108. The refrigerant coil 120may surround the condenser 105. The refrigerant coil 120 receives therefrigerant from the compressor 110, said refrigerant heats water in thecondenser 105. The refrigerant coil 120 may reside on the internal wallor the external wall of the volume reducing member 160. The volumereducing member 160 provides for local heating of water in a volumeadjacent to the sidewall of the condenser 105. Said local heatingcreates a density difference that enables a siphon flow between thesystem 100 and the water storage tank 150.

The system 100 further comprises a vaporizer 140. The vaporizer 140receives the outlet of the refrigerant coil 120, which is outputted asliquid. The vaporizer vaporizes the liquid outputted from therefrigerant coil 120 via tube 134 to the compressor 110 that sucks thegas from the vaporizer 140. It can be seen that the system 100 is aclosed system in terms of the air and liquid flow in the system 100.

The system 100 is connected to the water storage tank 150 using twotithes, The first tube 130 contains fluid outgoing from the system 100to the water storage tank 150. The second tube 132 contains wateroutgoing from the water storage tank 150 to the system 100.

FIG. 2 shows a condenser in a natural flow heating system, according toexemplary embodiments of the subject matter. The condenser 200 comprisesan inlet 220 in which fluid, such as water, enter the condenser 200, forexample, from a water storage tank. The condenser 200 further comprisesan outlet 230 from which fluid exit the condenser 200, for example tothe water storage tank.

The condenser 200 further comprises a shell and a volume reducingmember. Sidewalls 224 and 234 define the shell. Sidewalls 226 and 236define the volume reducing member. In some exemplary cases, water flowsat the condenser 200 at a volume created between the shell and thevolume reducing member, for example at a first volume 222 definedbetween a sidewall 226 of the volume reducing member and sidewall 224 ofthe shell. Water in the condenser 200 may also flow at a second volume222 defined between a sidewall 236 of the volume reducing member and asidewall 234 of the shell. In some other cases, water may flow insidethe volume reducing member.

In some exemplary cases, the water flows at a siphon flow between thecondenser 200 and the water storage tank. The water storage tank may bethe water storage tank 150. When water flows at a siphon flaw, thecondenser 200 of the disclosed subject matter enables a siphon flow.

In some cases, the volume in which water is heated is positionedadjacent to a refrigerant coil 250 containing refrigerant material. Therefrigerant material in the refrigerant coil 250 is hotter than thewater in the condenser and provides thermal contact onto the water.

In some exemplary cases, the condenser 200 of the water heating deviceof the disclosed subject matter enables water heating without a pump, asthe thermo siphon flow created by the volume reducing member makes thepump unnecessary. It should be noted that the water heating device mayalso operate using a pump in case of regulating the water flow ratebetween the heating device and the water storage tank.

FIG. 3 shows a condenser having an annular space, according to exemplaryembodiments of the subject matter. The condenser comprises an inlet 410from which water flow at inlet tube 405 from the water storage tank. Thecondenser comprises a base 430 near the inlet 410 and a lower portion420 near the inlet 410 to which water flows from the inlet tube 405. Thecondenser 400 comprises a refrigerant coil 422 containing refrigerantmaterial. The condenser further comprises an outlet 460 from which waterflow at outlet tube 465 from the condenser to the water storage tank.The condenser includes a shell 440 and a volume reducing member 425. Thevolume reducing member 425 is located inside the shell 440. The shell440 and the volume reducing member 425 may be concentric. The length ofthe volume reducing member 425 is smaller than the length of the shell440, as the length is defined in the axis between the inlet 410 and theoutlet 460. In some cases, the shell is the condenser's sidewalls. Insome exemplary cases, the top portion of the volume reducing member 425is sealed.

In some exemplary cases, water at the condenser 400 flows at the volumedefined between the shell 440 and the volume reducing member 425. Suchflow may be a siphon flow between the condenser and the water storagetank. In some exemplary cases, a pump may be used to regulate the rateflow of water between the condenser and the water storage tank, when thewater heating device is a split-type heat-pump.

The condenser 400 enables a siphon flow between the water heating deviceand the water storage tank. In some cases, such siphon flow is enabledby the annular space to of the volume between shell 440 and the volumereducing member 425. The annular space that creates flow between thecondenser 400 and the water storage tank enables heat convection of thewater inside the condenser 400 instead of heat conduction.

The volume reducing member 425 may be made of plastic, to decrease thecross-sectional area of the water flow path in the volume between theshell 440 and the volume is reducing member 425. The volume reducingmember 425 provides an increased water flow convection that improves theheat transfer from the refrigerant coil 422 to the water at the volumebetween shell 440 and the volume reducing member 425. The improved heattransfer ensures a full condensation of the refrigerant that ensures arelatively low back pressure on the compressor.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of an integrated water heating devicehaving the refrigerant coil inside the shell, according to exemplaryembodiments of the subject matter. The heating device of FIG. 4comprises an external cover 700. According to the exemplary embodimentdisclosed in FIG. 4, the volume in which water is heated is definedbetween the shell and the member used to reduce the cross section areaof the volume in which the water is heated. The water storage tank isdefined by sidewalls 710, 712. The volume in which water is heated isdefined between sidewalls 710, 712 and sidewalls 740, 742. The sidewalls740, 742 are a part of a member used for reducing the cross sectionalarea of the volume in which water is heated. For example, the water isheated in volume 730 defined between sidewall 710 of the shell andsidewall 740 of the member for reducing the cross section area of thevolume in which water is heated. In the exemplary embodiment disclosedin FIG. 4, the refrigerant coil 720 is positioned in volume 730. Thewater is heated along the refrigerant coil 720 in volume 730 and exitsthe volume 730 to the storage tank via an outlet tube 743. The outlettube 743 is connected to a regulator 745 for regulating water flow ratebetween the volume 730 and the storage tank. The regulator is connectedto the storage tank via a regulator tube 748. Similarly, the water isheated in volume 732 defined between sidewall 712 of the shell andsidewall 742 of the member for reducing the cross section area of thevolume in which water is heated. In the exemplary embodiment disclosedin FIG. 4, the refrigerant coil 722 is positioned in volume 732. Thewater is heated along the refrigerant coil 722 in volume 732 and itsflow is limited by barrier 752. As a result, water from volume 732 exitsthe volume 732 via outlet tube 743 of volume 730. The heating devicefurther comprises a vaporizer and a compressor at a zone 770 separatedfrom the water storage tank.

The subject matter further discloses a method and system for regulatingflow between a heating system and a water storage tank, according toexemplary embodiments of the subject matter. The system and method ofthe subject matter allow heating a reduced amount of water, for examplea “first shower” amount, at a reduced period of time, without therequirement to heat the entire water storage tank. The method forregulating flow in a heating system comprises obtaining data related totemperature. Such data may be obtained by a thermometer. The datarelated to temperature may be, for example, the temperature in the waterstorage tank, the temperature outside the water heating device and thelike. In some cases, the desired temperature is a constant value and thesystem only detects the temperature of the water at the storage tank. Insome other cases, the system detects the air temperature outside thewater storage tank.

The method further comprises a step of regulating the flow rate of waterentering the heat-pump condenser according to the data related totemperature. Alternatively, the method may regulate the flow rate ofwater outputted from the condenser to the water storage tank. Aregulator may regulate the flow rate. Regulation may be increasing ordecreasing the flow rate, according to the desired temperature. Theregulator may be positioned inside or outside the water storage tank.The regulator may be a valve, a pump or another mechanical module usedto regulate fluid flow desired by a person skilled in the art. The valvemay be a solenoid valve.

While the disclosure has been described with reference to exemplaryembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the subject matter.In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particularsituation or material to the teachings without departing from theessential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosedsubject matter not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed asthe best mode contemplated for carrying out this subject matter, butonly by the claims that follow.

1. A water heating device, comprising: A water storage tank (150); a condenser (105) located outside the water storm tank (150) and connected to the water storage tank (150), said condenser comprising, a shell (170) and a refrigerant coil (120) containing a refrigerant material, said refrigerant coil (120) is located outside the shell (170); a volume reducing member (160) positioned within the shell (170), said volume reducing member (160) is configured to reduce the cross section area in which the water flows when the water is heated in the condenser (105); a vaporizer (140) for receiving an output of the refrigerant coil (120) and vaporizing said output; a compressor (110) for compressing the vaporized refrigerant and provide said refrigerant coil (120) with compressed refrigerant; a first tube (130) for providing water from the condenser (105) to the water storage tank (150); a second tube (132) for providing water from the water storage tank (150) to the condenser (105).
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the water is heated in the condenser in a volume between the shell and the volume reducing member.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the heated water flows in a siphon-like flow between the water heating device and a water storage tank.
 4. (canceled)
 5. (canceled)
 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the volume reducing member is positioned within the shell to provide for local heating of water in a volume adjacent to side walls of the condenser, between the reducing member and the sidewalls.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is pump-less.
 8. A method of producing hot water, comprising: obtaining a heat pump system comprising a condenser having a water inlet, a water outlet, a shell and a refrigerant coil, said condenser is connected to a water storage tank and positioned outside the water storage tank; disposing a member positioned within the condenser, said member is configured to reduce the cross section area in which water is heated in the condenser; creating a siphon flow between the condenser and a water storage tank.
 9. The method according to claim 8, comprising allowing the water being heated and rising along the refrigerant coil in the condenser to rise in a siphon-like manner.
 10. A method for heating water at a condenser, the method comprising: obtaining a condenser connected to a water storage tank and located outside the water storage tank, wherein water flows between the condenser and the water storage tank; regulating the flow rate of water entering the condenser; providing water at a desired temperature from the condenser to the water storage tank according to the regulated flow rate.
 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the water flow between the condenser and the water storage tank using a siphon flow.
 12. The method according to claim 10, wherein regulating the flow rate of water is performed at the outlet of the water storage tank.
 13. (canceled)
 14. (canceled)
 15. (canceled)
 16. (canceled)
 17. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a regulator for regulating the amount of water flowing in the condenser
 18. The device according to claim 6, wherein the regulator is a valve.
 19. The device according to claim 6, wherein the regulator is a pump.
 20. The device according to claim 6, wherein the regulator is positioned outside the water storage tank.
 21. The method according to claim 10, wherein the flow rate is regulated according to temperature of the water. 